Crystal River current., 1887-05-14

give them lots to do, and keep them
at it. And as for that young 'un, il
she warn alters pettin' of it. it
wouldn't be so tarhal cross"
II know BETTER" was the retort,
"mother remembers when Will and
his wife were married, and there never
was smarter likelier girl anywhere.
! Will was good, too, but he got in such
a way to make money. and the more
he works the more she has to. Then
they've buried three children, and
mother says her hard work helped to
shorten their lives, and
ooh, you're a perfect baby yourself,
that's my notion" sneered John.
"And tell you," proceeded honest
Joe, eff the poor thing goes on in this
way much longer, they'll be another
grave over there, for she's next to
sick now, aud ! wish Will could see
it,"
He began to see it. He sat on the
milk-stool listening. He thought of
long ago and now, and the changes no.
ticed at supper. He remembered how
she had received, as a reward for her
toll, short words from him. Not that
he meant so, but he was in haste al
ways, and she surely very slow; but
then if, as Joe was saying, she was
sick-and the words, "another grave
over there" seemed to ring in his ears.
His lips closed systematically as he
caught the last words of the conversa-
ton. as they closed the barn doors
for the night.
"Well, then, why don't he get some
help? He has himself and Rob and
us, and she-didn't you see her to-day
taking the things back and forth while
he looked out from the seat of the
wagon? Made me mad. Wait'll get
marriedn' And they passed out of
hearing with these words.
Mrs. Harris came up to the door as
usual to get the milk. Her husband
watched her closely as he said:
~ can carry them in for you"
The look OF wonder she flashed in
his face made his heart beat rapidly.
He watched her arrange the milk. Civ
ing a lift to the heavy pals and jars,
occasionally. Picking up the empty
pals, she, turning toward hekitchen,
glanced at him. How tired she look
ed! He took the jars away from her
and closed the mill-house door. lie
placed both hands on her shoulders.
"Mollie," he said, in a husky voice,
"tel me, have been abusing your"
She looked surprised, and he went
on hurredly:
~ heard tonight / was a brute,
that you were worked to death. and
got no sympathy except from strang-
ers. They think you've changed
since you married me, and l guess-I
guess Che paused and drew her close in
his arms) that it is all so. Mollie; but
believe me, dear, that in my haste to
make money forgot you could not
stand this, and that 1t was not that
have no longer your happiness in
view. Do you believe me?''
Then he suddenly left her alone, for
it is q hard thing for a proud man to
come to n confession. She sank on
the floor and suffered hot tears to
flow. Tired, sick, heart-weary, she
felt Il moment since as if she would
drop with fatigue. She arose soon,
and having washed the pals, took the
baby from Rob and sat down in the
sitting-room where they all sat. The
rain had cooled the air off, and as she
rocked to and fro with the child
asleep in her arms, she looked up to
find her husbands eyes on her. She
smiled.
"Mollie," said he. "would twenty
five yards OF calico and two hired
girls be any help to you
"Half the quantity will be sufficient,
my DEAR" she answered.
And Joe told John, as they went up
to bed an hour later, that he really
did believe Will must have heard their
talk in the barn.
| But the girl was Forthcoming next
day and stayed for many day, and
the baby, not having tired, over.
heated mother, cut it's teeth and
speedily grew strong and fat and the
roses and smiles came back to Mrs.
| Harris face and chased the weary
look out OF her eyes.-U. f. U. q, in
Farm and Fireside.
Stories of the Custer Massacre,
Eror, Naw Gro ob;o